Radio communication system, radio station, radio terminal, network operation management apparatus, and communication quality confirmation method

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a radio communication system having quality measurement means configured to execute quality measurement related to a service quality in communication between a radio terminal and a radio station, and information collection means configured to collect information related to a location of the radio terminal to be a target for the quality measurement, the radio communication system comprising: means configured to associate the information related to the location of the radio terminal when a predetermined condition is satisfied in an execution period of the quality measurement with results of the quality measurement.

CROSS REFERENCE OT RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No.14/373,330, filed in the U.S. Patent Office on Jul. 18, 2014, which is aNational Stage Entry, under 35 USC § 371 of International ApplicationPCT/JP2013/050760, filed on Jan. 17, 2013, which claims priority from JP2012-009486, filed Jan. 19, 2012, the entire disclosures of which areincorporated herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a radio communication system that aradio station has function to instruct a radio terminal to obtaincollect measurement information, and a function to collect themeasurement information.

BACKGROUND ART

In the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), in order to reduceoperation expense (OPEX) incurred in a drive-test by an operator,utilization of a radio terminal for measurement and report ofinformation that has been collected by the drive-test or informationsimilar thereto is under study (Non Patent Literature 1). An ultimateobject of the above-mentioned study is the minimization of execution ofthe drive-tests, and the technology related to this study iscollectively called “MDT” (Minimization of Drive-Tests). An applicationtarget of MDT is both UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System)and LTE (Long Term Evolution), which are cellular systems defined in3GPP. The term “measurement” herein also includes “detecting” a certainspecific situation.

In MDT, the following two methods are defined as a method for obtainingand reporting measurement information by a radio terminal.

1. Immediate MDT: The method that instructs a radio terminal to obtainand report measurement information in an active state. It is alsoabbreviated as “IMM MDT”

2. Logged MDT: The method that instructs a radio terminal to obtainmeasurement information in an idle state, and report the obtainedmeasurement information in an active state. It is also abbreviated to as“LOG MDT”.

In the study of MDT, making a determination which radio terminal isinstructed to obtain and report measurement information in the networkside, that is, control of obtaining and reporting measurementinformation by a radio terminal initiated by the network is a basicprinciple, and the following two methods are defined in Non PatentLiterature 2.

A. Management based MDT: The method that firstly specifies an area to bea target for collection of measurement information in MDT, and thenselects any radio terminal from radio terminals staying in the area. Ttis also called as Area based MDT.

B. Signaling based MDT: The method that selects a specific radioterminal based on an individual identifier (Identity: ID) of the radioterminal.

Hereinafter, as an example of MDT defined in 3GPP, management-basedImmediate MDT will be described with reference to FIG. 15 . A LTE systemassumed herein includes a radio terminal UE (User Equipment: UE), aradio base station (evolved NodeB: eNB), a mobility management apparatus(Mobility Management Entity: MME)/a home subscriber management server(Home Subscriber Server: HSS) of a radio terminal, a network operationmanagement apparatus (Element Manager: EM), and an informationcollection server (Trace Collection Entity: TCE). Hereinafter, each stepof the management-based Immediate MDT will be described.

Step 1) The EM notifies an eNB of a MDT Activation message includingconfiguration information (MDT measurement configuration) measured by aradio terminal (UE) of MDT, target location information of MDT (AreaScope), trace basic information (TR: Trace Reference, TRSR: TraceRecording Session Reference) and the like, as information necessary forexecuting the management-based Immediate MDT.

Step 2) The eNB confirms a user agreement (User Consent) with respect toa report of location information of the UE belonging to the eNB (Userconsent information retrieval) with an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) (Inparticular, HSS). Note that such confirmation by the User consent isperformed through each interface from the eNB to the MME, and from theMME to the HSS, but in FIG. 15 , it is described as an interface (ormessage) from the eNB to the EPC (MME/HSS), instead of sequentiallyindicating an interface (or message) between the eNB and the MME, and aninterface (or message) between the MME and the HSS. Also, in FIG. 15 , auser agrees (Consent) and it is assumed to select the UE of the user asUE to be instructed the Immediate MDT.

Step 3) The eNB starts a trace session (Starting Trace Session) forcollecting UE measurement information of MDT, and transmitsconfiguration information measured by the UE for the Immediate MDT tothe UE (Measurement configuration (IMM MDT)). Here, the configurationinformation includes, for example, a measurement target and ameasurement period, or instructions to report location information.

Step 4) The UE executes measurement at an instructed period and reportsthe measurement results and location information to the eNB.

Step 5) The eNB notifies the EPC (MME) of an identifier of the tracesession (that is, TR or TRSR) after collecting (or, in the process ofcollecting) the UE measurement information of a predetermined MDT.

Step 6) The EPC (MME) reports corresponding type information of the UE(TAC: Type Allocation Code) and an identifier (that is, TR or TRSR) tothe TCE.

Step 7) The eNB reports to the TCE, a trace record that records thecollected UE measurement information of MDT.

Here, the measurement information obtained by a radio terminal is a cellID (Physical Cell Identity: PCI or, E-UTRAN Cell Global Identity: ECGI)of a cell where the radio terminal stays, or of a neighboring cell,received power (RS Received Power: RSRP) of reference signals (ReferenceSignal: RS) which are downlink known signals transmitted in each cell(Non-Patent Literature 3). The information including a cell ID and thereceived power may also be called as “RF Fingerprint”. Further, in thecase of Logged MDT, a radio terminal also stores time information(relative time from absolute time that is notified when receivingconfiguration of Logged MDT) upon storing the results of the measurementinformation.

Further, when a radio terminal obtains detailed location informationwith no relation to MDT while obtaining measurement information, theradio terminal also stores the detailed location information therewithand reports such information to a radio base station. The detailedlocation information is for example location information obtained with aGNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) typified by a GPS (GlobalPositioning System), or location information obtained with a locationinformation service (Location Service: LCS) by a network.

Using the terminal measurement of MDT as described above, it is possibleto perform coverage mapping that indicates received quality of a targetarea on the network side, without a manual drive test (or with reductionof executing a drive test). In particular, it is possible to perform thecoverage mapping more accurately in the case that a report accompaniedby detailed location information increases. Further, it is expected torealize a self-optimization of coverage which is studied in SON(Self-Organizing Network), based on the coverage mapping.

CITATION LIST Non-Patent Literature

[Non Patent Literature 1]

3GPP TS37.320v10.3.0

(Intemet<URL>http:www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/37320.htm)

[Non Patent Literature 2]

3GPP TS32.422v10.5.0

(Intemet<URL>http:www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/32422.htm)

[Non Patent Literature 3]

3GPP TS36.331v10.3.0

(Internet<URL>http:www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/36331.htm)

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

Analysis of the related art by the present invention is described below.

In MDT defined in 3GPP listed as the related art, measurement results ofa radio terminal and measured location information are correspondedone-to-one. That is, on the network side (e.g. TCE), it is possible toeasily understand at which point the measurement results are measured.

Here, in MDT, consider a case that quality measurement related tocommunication quality, which is called as a QoS (Quality of Service),between a radio station (e.g. radio base station eNB or base stationcontrol station RNC) and a radio terminal is performed. Note that, it isconceivable that a subject to execute the quality measurement is a radiostation, or a radio terminal, the case in which the radio stationperforms will be described as an example. When the radio stationexecutes quality measurement related to a communication quality with oneradio terminal, it is important which location the UE is staying withthe quality. In some cases, as to a location where the radio terminalstays, the information on a cell level may be enough, that is, theinformation as to which cell the radio terminal stays, but in othercases, the information on a more detailed level may be necessary, thatis, the information as to where the radio terminal stays in a cell. Asdescribed above, there is a purpose of using the MDT as an alternativefor a drive test, so that it is required to collect location informationat a more detailed level than a cell level. Therefore, when executingthe quality measurement related to the QoS in the MDT, it is necessaryto collect the location information at a more detailed level than a celllevel.

At present, although it is not defined how quality measurement relatedto the QoS is performed in the MDT, consider that it is assumed to usethe Immediate MDT described above. Firstly, a radio station givesinstructions of the Immediate MDT to a radio terminal, for example,instructions to execute periodical measurement of received quality (e.g.RSRP or RSRQ) and obtain location information, and to report themeasurement results of the received quality and the locationinformation. In accordance with the instructions, the radio terminalperiodically reports the measurement results of the received quality andthe obtained location information to the radio station. At this time,the radio station executes quality measurement of communication betweenthe radio station and the radio terminal in parallel with the ImmediateMDT. Note that, as an example of the quality measurement, throughputmeasurement is conceivable. Then, the radio station reports each of UEmeasurement information collected in Immediate MDT (that is, measurementresults of received quality and location information) and the qualitymeasurement results (e.g. throughput) to the information collectionserver (TCE) of MDT, independently. It is conceivable to assume valuesat a time point where the radio terminal stayed, using the qualitymeasurement results (e.g. throughput) and the location information ofthe radio terminal which is collected at a time point that is close to atime point where the quality measurement results were obtained. Forexample, a distribution map (mapping) indicating how much throughput isobtained in the whereabouts of a cell is generated, based on thecollected throughput and location information.

However, as in the above-described method, when executing the qualitymeasurement related to the QoS such as throughput and collection of thelocation information by the Immediate MDT independently, the TCE cannotprecisely determine the quality measurement as to where a radio terminalactually stayed, because it takes a period of time (from several secondsto several minutes) to execute the quality measurement related to theQoS such as throughput.

In such a case, only with the location information when a radio terminalmoves in a period of the quality measurement and the measurement resultsare obtained (e.g. predetermined calculation is finished), a problem iscaused that it is difficult to make effective use of the results of thequality measurement. For example, in mapping generation of throughputdescribed above, a mapping accuracy is inferior to what it is expected.This becomes more of a problem as a period of the quality measurement islonger, or a moving speed of a radio terminal is faster. For example,when a radio terminal with 30 kilometers per hour performs communicationfor 30 seconds, the distance that the radio terminal moves in a periodof throughput measurement is about 240 meters. Also, when a rapidlymoving radio terminal with 100 kilometers per hour performscommunication for 20 seconds, the movement distance is about 550 meters.Taking into consideration that an accuracy of GPS location informationis from several meters to several ten meters, it is impossible to thinkthat the radio terminal stays in almost the same location in the mappingof throughput

Further, this problem causes a large influence in multivendorenvironments in which a plurality of radio stations by different vendorsare mixed within the same radio communication system. That is, when theradio stations for each vendor executes quality measurement and collectslocation information at any time point in their unique way, it isdifficult for the TCE to perform calculations, taking the differences ineach vendor into consideration.

Therefore, the problem to be solved in the present invention is thatwhen executing quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g.QoS) in MDT, it is necessary to provide a method for associating resultsof the quality measurement with location information of a radio terminalto be a target for the quality measurement.

Solution to Problem

The present invention is a radio communication system having qualitymeasurement means configured to execute quality measurement related to aservice quality in communication between a radio terminal and a radiostation, and information collection means configured to collectinformation related to a location of the radio terminal to be a targetfor the quality measurement, the radio communication system comprising:means configured to associate the information related to the location ofthe radio terminal when a predetermined condition is satisfied in anexecution period of the quality measurement with results of the qualitymeasurement.

The present invention is a radio terminal in a radio communicationsystem that executes quality measurement related to a service quality incommunication between the radio terminal and a radio station, the radioterminal comprising: location information report means configured toobtain information related to the radio terminal when a predeterminedcondition is satisfied in an execution period of the quality measurementand report the obtained information related to the location to the radiostation.

The present invention is a radio station in a radio communication systemthat executes quality measurement related to a service quality incommunication between a radio terminal and the radio station, the radiostation comprising: means configured to instruct the radio terminal tobe a target for the quality measurement to obtain one or more than oneinformation related to a location when a predetermined condition issatisfied;

and means configured to associate the information related to thelocation of the radio terminal with results of the quality measurement.

The present invention is a network operation management apparatus in aradio communication system that executes quality measurement related toa service quality in communication between a radio terminal and a radiostation, the network operation management apparatus comprising: meansconfigured to instruct the radio station to execute the qualitymeasurement; instruct the radio terminal to be a target for the qualitymeasurement to obtain one or more than one information related to alocation when a predetermined condition is satisfied, in an executionperiod of the quality measurement; and transmit the information relatedto the location of the radio terminal in association with results of thequality measurement.

The present invention is a communication quality confirmation method,comprising: executing quality measurement related to a service qualityin communication between a radio terminal and a radio station; obtaininginformation related to a location of the radio terminal when apredetermined condition is satisfied; and associating the informationrelated to the location of the radio terminal when the predeterminedcondition is satisfied with results of the quality measurement.

Advantageous Effect of Invention

According to the present invention, in a network apparatus such as theTCE, as to the results of quality measurement related to a QoS collectedin MDT, it is possible to easily understand where a radio terminal staysat a time point the results are available, thereby being able toeffectively confirm whether a desired QoS is achieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of a radio stationand a radio terminal in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of a radio stationand a radio terminal in accordance with the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of a radio stationand a radio terminal in accordance with a second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of a radio stationand a radio terminal in accordance with the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a first radio communication systemapplied to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a radio terminal (UE) and a radio basestation (eNB) in accordance with the first radio communication system;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a radio network (MME/HSS/EM) in accordancewith the first radio communication system;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an information collection server (TCE) inaccordance with the first radio communication system;

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the radio basestation (eNB) and the radio terminal (UE) in accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the radio basestation (eNB) and the radio terminal (UE) in accordance with a fourthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the radio basestation (eNB) and the radio terminal (UE) in accordance with a fifthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of each node ofthe first radio communication system in accordance with a sixthembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a second radio communicationsystem applied to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of each node ofthe second radio communication system in accordance with a seventhembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of Immediate MDTin a LTE system related to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Description of Configuration

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the drawings, using an example of a radio communicationsystem including radio stations (e.g. radio base station and basestation control station) and radio terminals as a configuration element.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a radio station or a radioterminal has a function to execute quality measurement related to aservice quality in communication between the radio station and the radioterminal, the radio station has a function to instruct the radioterminal to obtain and report information related to a location(location related information) of the radio terminal, and the radioterminal has a function to obtain information related to a location ofthe radio terminal and report it to the radio station. Note that theservice quality is also called as QoS (Quality of Service). In such aradio communication system, the radio station associates informationrelated to a location of the radio terminal when a predeterminedcondition is satisfied with results of quality measurement, in anexecution period of the quality measurement related to the servicequality (e.g. QoS). As means for realizing this, the radio stationinstructs the radio terminal to be a target for the quality measurementrelated to the service quality (e.g. QoS) to obtain one or more than oneinformation related to a location of the radio terminal when apredetermined condition is satisfied in an execution period of thequality measurement and to report the information related to thelocation, and associates the information related to the locationcollected from the radio terminal with the results of the qualitymeasurement. Note that, as an association method, for example, theinformation related to the location collected from the radio terminaland the results of the quality measurement may be a pair of information,or the information related to the location collected from the radioterminal may be associated with the results of the quality measurementby associating each of the information related to the location collectedfrom the radio terminal and the results of the quality measurement withidentification information of the radio terminal.

Here, it is conceivable that “information related to a location(location related information)” is, for example,

detailed location information obtained with GNSS (Global NavigationSatellite System) typified by GPS (Global Positioning System),

detailed location information that is obtained, based on an arrivaltiming difference of signals from a plurality of radio stations in oneradio terminal, known as OTDOA (Observed Time Difference Of Arrival),and

received power (or received quality) of downlink signals (e.g. pilotsignals and reference signals) of an staying area (e.g. cell) and aneighboring area (e.g. cell) of the radio terminal, and an identifier ofthe area, but it is not limited thereto. Note that, it is conceivablethat a radio terminal reports an accuracy of detailed locationinformation (that is, positioning accuracy) together with the detailedlocation information. Meanwhile, it is conceivable that qualitymeasurement related to the service quality is performed by either aradio station, or a radio terminal.

-   -   Further, it is conceivable that “a period of quality        measurement” is, for example,    -   from the start to the end of quality measurement,    -   from a preparation period before the start of quality        measurement to the end thereof,    -   from the start of quality measurement to a post-processing        period after the end thereof, and    -   from a preparation period before start of quality measurement to        a post-processing period after the end thereof, but it is not        limited thereto. Note that a post-processing period after the        end of quality measurement indicates a period that is required        until a radio terminal obtains information related to a location        after the end of quality measurement, for example, in the case        that the end of the quality measurement is a predetermined        condition. Here, it is conceivable that an example of quality        measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS) is, for        example,    -   throughput measurement,    -   a packet loss rate,    -   a packet discard rate,    -   a packet (or transport block) error rate,    -   a packet (or transport block) retransmission rate,    -   a call setup delay, and    -   a handover delay, but it is not limited thereto. Here, it is        conceivable that a call setup delay is a time from after        confirmation of a first access (or, after completion of a first        access process) until completion of each network establishment,        when one radio terminal performs a radio link establishment, or        a network connection establishment with a radio station.        Further, it is conceivable that a handover delay is a time from        a time point at which a radio terminal performs a measurement        report for handover until completion of handover. Note that, it        is conceivable that completion of handover is until a radio        terminal completes handover, or until a source radio station is        notified of information, from a target radio station, indicating        that handover of the radio terminal is completed.

On the other hand, it is conceivable that “information related to alocation of a radio terminal when a predetermined condition issatisfied” is, for example,

information related to a location that is stored by a radio terminalwhen a radio station gives instructions to the radio terminal whendeciding whether a predetermined condition is satisfied and when theradio terminal receives the instructions from the radio station,

information related to a location that is obtained (or in the middle ofobtainment) by a radio terminal when a radio station gives instructionsto the radio terminal when deciding whether a predetermined condition issatisfied and when the radio terminal receives the instructions from theradio station,

information related to a location that is stored by a radio terminalwhen a radio terminal decides that a predetermined condition issatisfied, and

information related to a location that is obtained (or in the middle ofobtainment) by a radio terminal when a radio terminal decides whether apredetermined condition is satisfied, but it is not limited thereto.

Further, it is conceivable that “predetermined condition” is, forexample,

the start or the end (at least either of them) of quality measurementrelated to a service quality (e.g. QoS),

the start and the end of quality measurement related to a servicequality (e.g. QoS),

a predetermined period,

detailed location information by GPS or OTDOA is obtained (or updated),

a trigger for handover is initiated,

a call disconnection (also referred to as Radio Link Failure: RLF)occurs, and

received quality of a serving cell (that is, a stay cell) is changed bya predetermined amount, but it is not limited thereto.

Here, when using “the start or the end of quality measurement” as acondition, it is possible to make clear correspondence betweeninformation related to a location of a radio terminal and results ofquality measurement by deciding as a rule that the information relatedto the location of the radio terminal at, at least, either a start pointor an end point is collected. Further, when using “the start and the endof quality measurement” as a condition, it is possible to obtaininformation such as how much a radio terminal moves, or how muchreceived quality changes during a period of quality measurement, inaddition to making clear correspondence between the information relatedto a location of a radio terminal and the results of qualitymeasurement.

Here, it is conceivable that “the start of quality measurement” is, forexample,

the start of a session to be a target for quality measurement,

the transmission of first data in a session to be a target for qualitymeasurement,

the reception of first data in a session to be a target for qualitymeasurement,

a time point that data belonging to a predetermined QoS (or, QoS group,QCI: Qos Class Indicator) in a session to be a target for qualitymeasurement is generated, and

the transmission of data belonging to a predetermined QoS (or, QoSgroup, QCI) in a session to be a target for quality measurement, but itis not limited thereto.

Further, it is conceivable that “the end of quality measurement” is, forexample,

the end of a session to be a target for quality measurement,

the decision of end of a session to be a target for quality measurement,

the transmission of last data in a session to be a target for qualitymeasurement,

the reception of last data in a session to be a target for qualitymeasurement,

the completion of transmitting last data in a session to be a target forquality measurement,

the completion of receiving last data in a session to be a target forquality measurement, and

a time point that data belonging to a predetermined QoS (or, QoS group,QCI) in a session to be a target for quality measurement is empty but itis not limited thereto.

On the other hand, when using “predetermined period” as a condition, itis conceivable that a radio terminal periodically obtains informationrelated to a location from the start of quality measurement. Therefore,when a radio terminal moves greatly during a period of qualitymeasurement, or when the received quality fluctuates greatly, it ispossible to understand a detailed movement path or a fluctuation stateof the received quality.

Further, “a trigger for handover is initiated,” is, for example, tosatisfy a preliminary indicated condition related to a measurementreport of received quality, or to receive or transmit handoverinstructions. Therefore, even when the quality measurement is disrupteddue to handover to be performed by a radio terminal during a period ofthe quality measurement, that is, in the middle of the qualitymeasurement, it is possible to collect the results of qualitymeasurement up to a time point of the handover (that is, interimresults), or information related to a location at the time point of thehandover, Further, not only a single predetermined condition is used,but a plurality of predetermined conditions can also be used. Forexample, a predetermined condition to be judged in a radio station andanother predetermined condition to be decided in a radio terminal may beused in combination, or a plurality of predetermined conditions may beused in combination in the radio station, or the radio terminal.

Here, as a method for the use of collected information related to alocation, when collecting information related to locations at aplurality of time points, for example, at the start and the end ofquality measurement, it is conceivable that such information isprocessed by linear interpolation to estimate a point where a radioterminal stays, and associated quality measurement results are mapped tothe point where the radio terminal stays. On the other hand, whencollecting only information related to a location at a predeterminedtime point, it is conceivable that the associated quality measurementresults are mapped to the point where the radio terminal stays at thepredetermined time point. However, a method for the use of the collectedinformation related to a location is not limited thereto, but varioususage embodiments are possible.

FIGS. 1 to 4 are sequence diagrams illustrating basic operations of aradio station and a radio terminal in a radio communication system ofthe present invention. Here, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an example that aradio station executes quality measurement related to a service quality(e.g. QoS), and FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show an example that a radio terminalexecutes the quality measurement.

First Embodiment

In FIG. 1 , by performing the following steps, a radio station 1collects information related to a location from a radio terminal 2, whenexecuting quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS).Firstly, the radio station 1 starts the quality measurement related tothe service quality (e.g. QoS) for the radio terminal 2 (Step 101). Theradio station 1 decides whether a predetermined condition is satisfied,and when the radio station 1 decides that the predetermined condition issatisfied at a time point (Step 102), the radio station 1 instructs theradio terminal 2 to report the information related to the location (Step103). When receiving the instructions, the radio terminal 2 obtains theinformation related to the location (Step 104) and reports theinformation related to the location obtained at a predetermined timingto the radio station 1 (Step 105). Here, a predetermined timing may benotified from the radio station 1 when instructing the radio terminal 2to report the information related to the location, or it may bepreliminarily notified to the radio terminal 2. Then, the radio station1 finishes the quality measurement related to the service quality (Step106). The radio station 1 associates the information related to thelocation of the radio terminal when a predetermined condition issatisfied in a period of the quality measurement related to the servicequality with the results of the quality measurement (Step 107).

Similarly, In FIG. 2 , by performing the following steps, the radiostation 1 collects information related to a location from the radioterminal when executing quality measurement related to a service quality(e.g. QoS). The difference from FIG. 1 lies in that the radio terminal 2decides whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. Firstly, theradio station 1 starts quality measurement related to the servicequality (e.g. QoS) for the radio terminal 2 (Step 111). The radiostation 1 instructs the radio terminal 2 to report information relatedto the location (Step 112). A predetermined condition may be notified atthis time, or it may preliminarily be notified to the radio terminal 2.Further, a predetermined condition may preliminarily be defined in thespecification. The radio terminal 2 decides whether the predeterminedcondition is satisfied, and when the radio terminal 2 decides that thepredetermined condition is satisfied at a time point (Step 113), theradio terminal 2 obtains the information related to the location (Step114). Then, the radio terminal 2 reports the information related to thelocation to the radio station 1 at a predetermined timing (Step 115).Here, a predetermined timing may be notified from the radio station wheninstructing the radio terminal 2 to report the information related tothe location, or it may be preliminarily notified to the radio terminal2. Then, then, the radio station 1 finishes the quality measurementrelated to the service quality (Step 116). The radio station 1associates the information related to the location of the radio terminalwhen a predetermined condition is satisfied in a period of the qualitymeasurement related to the service quality with the results of thequality measurement (Step 117).

Here, when the quality measurement related the service quality (e.g.QoS) is finished, the radio station 1 associates the results of thequality measurement with the information related to the locationcollected from the radio terminal 2. “Association” herein means, forexample, storing of the results of quality measurement and informationrelated to a location by generating one information element (e.g. it maybe referred to as QoS Information Element, or as QoS container), orstoring of the results of quality measurement and information related toa location by performing association with the use of a predeterminedidentifier. It is also conceivable that the radio station 1 transmitsthe information element, or the associated quality measurement resultsto an information collection server, or an upper network node. Further,the association may be performed before the end of quality measurement,that is, during execution of the quality measurement.

By the above-operations, when a radio station executes qualitymeasurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it is possible toeffectively collect information related to a location of the radioterminal to be a target for quality measurement, and to clearlyassociate the results of the quality measurement with the informationrelated to the location of the radio terminal. Further, this enables aninformation collection server, which has collected the results of thequality measurement and the information related to the location of theradio terminal from the radio station, to understand which results ofthe quality measurement are the results as to where (that is, whichlocation) the radio terminal stayed, thereby being able to use suchinformation effectively.

Second Embodiment

Next, an example in which a radio terminal executes quality measurementwill be described.

In FIG. 3 , by performing the following steps, the radio station 1collects the results of quality measurement related to a service quality(e.g. QoS) and information related to a location from the radio terminal2. Firstly, the radio station 1 instructs the radio terminal 2 toexecute quality measurement related to the service quality (e.g. QoS)and report the results of the quality measurement, and obtain and reportthe information related to the location (Step 201). Note that, it isconceivable that the instructions to execute the quality measurementinclude information as to what, how, in which timing and in which periodthe quality measurement is executed. The radio terminal 2 starts thequality measurement related to the service quality (e.g. QoS) (Step202). Note that, it is conceivable that, as to a start timing for thequality measurement, the timing is instructed from the radio station 1,or it is preliminarily notified to the radio terminal 2, or the qualitymeasurement to be a target (that is, to be executed) is decided bysomething, in the instructions of the quality measurement (Step 201).The radio terminal 2 decides whether a predetermined condition issatisfied during execution of the quality measurement, and obtains theinformation related to the location (Step 204) when the predeterminedcondition is satisfied (Step 203). At a predetermined timing, the radioterminal 2 reports the obtained information related to the location tothe radio station 1 (Step 205). Here, a predetermined timing may benotified from the radio station 1 when instructing the radio terminal 2to report the information related to the location (Step 201), or it maybe preliminarily notified to the radio terminal 2. Then, when the radioterminal 2 finishes the quality measurement related to the servicequality (Step 206), the radio terminal 2 reports the results of thequality measurement to the radio station (Step 207). The radio station 1associates the information related to the location of the radio terminalwhen a predetermined condition is satisfied in a period of the qualitymeasurement related to the service quality with the results of thequality measurement (Step 208).

Similarly, in FIG. 4 , by performing the following steps, the radiostation 1 collects the results of quality measurement related to theservice quality (e.g. QoS) and information related to a location fromthe radio terminal 2. The difference from FIG. 3 lies in that the radioterminal 2 reports information related to a location together with theresults of quality measurement. That is, when obtaining informationrelated to a location (Step S214), the radio terminal 2 stores theinformation related to the location, and after finishing the qualitymeasurement related to the service quality (Step 215), the radioterminal 2 reports the information related to the location to the radiostation 1, together with the results of the quality measurement (Step216). The radio station 1 associates the information related to thelocation of the radio terminal when a predetermined condition issatisfied in a period of the quality measurement related to the servicequality with the results of the quality measurement (Step 217).

Here, when collecting the results of the quality measurement related tothe service quality (e.g. QoS), the radio terminal 1 associates theresults of the quality measurement with the information related to thelocation collected from the radio terminal 2. “Association” hereinmeans, for example, storing of the results of quality measurement andinformation related to a location by generating one information element(e.g. it may be referred to as QoS information element), or storing ofthe results of quality measurement and information related to a locationby performing association with the use of a predetermined identifier. Itis also conceivable that the radio station 1 transmits the informationelement, or the associated quality measurement results to an informationcollection server, or an upper network node. Further, the associationmay be performed before the end of quality measurement, that is, duringexecution of the quality measurement.

By the above-operations, when the radio station 1 instructs the radioterminal 2 to execute quality measurement related to a service quality(QoS) and report the results of the quality measurement, it is possibleto effectively collect information related to a location of the radioterminal 2 to be a target for the quality measurement, and to clearlyassociate the results of the quality measurement with the informationrelated to the location of the radio terminal. Further, this enables theinformation collection server, which has collected the results of thequality measurement and the information related to the location of theradio terminal 2 from the radio station 1, to understand which resultsof the quality measurement are the results as to where (that is, whichlocation) the radio terminal 2 stayed, thereby being able to use suchinformation effectively. Here, an advantage to instruct the radioterminal 2 to decide whether a predetermined condition is satisfied liesin that it is possible to reduce a message for instructing the radioterminal 2 to obtain information related to a location from the radiostation 1, or reduce a gap (that is, time difference) between a timepoint at which a predetermined condition is satisfied and a timing forobtaining information related to a location.

As other examples as to obtaining and reporting of information relatedto a location of the radio terminal 2 during which the qualitymeasurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS) is performed, thefollowings are conceivable as an example:

A radio terminal periodically obtains and reports information related alocation;

A radio terminal periodically obtains information related a location,and reports when a predetermined report trigger is initiated;

A radio terminal periodically obtains information related a location,and reports in the case when moving more than a predetermined distancefrom the time of a previous obtainment or a previous report;

A radio terminal periodically obtains information related a location,and reports in the case when transmitting the predetermined number (orthe predetermined amount) of packets (or, data) from the time of aprevious obtainment or a previous report;

A radio terminal obtains information related to a location when apredetermined obtainment trigger is initiated, and periodically reports;and

A radio terminal obtains information related to a location when apredetermined obtainment trigger is initiated, and reports when apredetermined report trigger is initiated.

Here, an obtainment period and a report period of information related toa location may be the same or different. A predetermined report triggermay preliminarily be notified from the radio station 1 to the radioterminal 2, or it may be notified when the radio terminal 2 receivesinstructions to report information related to a location from the radiostation 1. A predetermined obtainment trigger may preliminarily benotified from the radio station 1 to the radio terminal 2, or it may benotified when the radio terminal 2 receives instructions to obtaininformation related to a location from the radio station 1. Further,when comparing information related to a location with the time of aprevious obtainment or a previous report (e.g. movement distance, or thenumber of packets), the obtained information related to the location maybe reported not until after receiving instructions to obtain and reportthe information related to the location. Note that these are onlyexamples, so that it is not indispensable to be any of the examples.

With use of one embodiment of the present invention described above, asto the results of quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g.QoS), it is possible to easily understand where a radio terminal stayswhen the results are available, thereby being able to effectivelyconfirm whether a desired QoS is achieved.

<Embodiment Assuming Radio Communication System of 3GPP>

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the drawings, using LTE (Long TermEvolution) or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) which isa radio communication system of 3GPP (3rd Generation PartnershipProject) as an example.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a radio station (radio basestation eNB of LTE, or base station control station RNC of UMTS or basestation NB of UMTS), or a radio terminal has a function to executequality measurement related to a service quality in communicationbetween the radio station and the radio terminal, the radio station hasa function to instruct the radio terminal to obtain and reportinformation related to a location of the radio terminal, and the radioterminal has a function to obtain information related to a location ofthe radio terminal and report it to the radio station. Note that theservice quality is also called as QoS (Quality of Service). In such aradio communication system, the radio station associates informationrelated to a location of the radio terminal when a predeterminedcondition is satisfied with results of quality measurement, in anexecution period of the quality measurement related to the servicequality (e.g. QoS). As means for realizing this, the radio stationinstructs the radio terminal to be a target for quality measurementrelated to the service quality (e.g. QoS) to obtain one or more than oneinformation related to a location of the radio terminal when apredetermined condition is satisfied in an execution period of thequality measurement and to report the information related to thelocation, and associates the information related to the locationcollected from the radio terminal with the results of the qualitymeasurement to transmit to an information collection server. Note that,as an association method, for example, the information related to thelocation collected from the radio terminal and the results of thequality measurement may be transmitted to the information collectionserver as a pair of information, or the information related to thelocation collected from the radio terminal may be associated with theresults of the quality measurement by associating each of theinformation related to the location collected from the radio terminaland the results of the quality measurement with identificationinformation of the radio terminal respectively, and then the informationrelated to the location collected from the radio terminal and theresults of the quality measurement may separately be transmitted to theinformation collection server.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the radio terminal has afunction to obtain measurement information specified by the radiostation and to report the obtained measurement information to the radiostation. In the following, as a method for realizing obtainment andreport of measurement information or information related to a locationby the radio terminal, it is assumed “to obtain and report measurementinformation or information related to a location by the radio terminalin “Minimization of Drive Test (MDT)” defined in 3GPP. However, thepresent invention is not limited thereto. Further, in the following,note that obtainment of measurement information or information relatedto a location by the radio terminal in MDT is referred to as “MDTmeasurement”, report of MDT measurement and measurement information orinformation related to a location obtained by the MDT measurement isreferred to as “MDT measurement reporting”, and logging (storing) of MDTmeasurement and measurement information or information related to alocation obtained by the MDT measurement is referred to as “MDTmeasurement logging”.

Here, it is conceivable that “information related to a location” is, forexample,

detailed location information obtained with GNSS (Global NavigationSatellite System) typified by GPS,

detailed location information obtained with a location informationservice (Location Service: LCS) such as OTDOA

received power (e.g. RSRP, or received quality) of downlink signals(e.g. pilot signal or reference signal) both of a serving cell of aradio terminal and a neighboring cell, and an ID of the cell (e.g. PCIor PSC). The information related to a location by received power (or,received quality) of downlink signals and a cell ID is also called as RFFingerprint. Note that, it is conceivable that a radio terminal reportsan accuracy of detailed location information (that is, positioningaccuracy) together with the detailed location information.

Further, in the present invention, when executing quality measurementrelated to a service quality (QoS), it is also conceivable to takeinformation on a state of a radio network executing the qualitymeasurement into consideration. This is because, when executing thequality measurement for communication between each radio terminal (UE)and a radio station (e.g. eNB or RNC) located in adjacent areas, themeanings are different depending on when and under what circumstancesthe results are obtained. For example, as to throughput per user in busyhours and throughput per user in off-hours, throughput per user in busyhours tends to be reduced in general. At this time, when decidingquality only with throughput values per user, without taking busy hoursor off-hours into consideration, there is a problem that a meaning ofthe throughput is misinterpreted. It is conceivable that radio networkinformation is, for example,

core network load information,

radio access network load information, and

radio bearer related information,

but it is not limited thereto. The core network load information refersto the information such as what level EPC (e.g. MME, S-GW) load or CoreNetwork (CN) (e.g. SGSN, GGSN) load is in, or whether it is overloaded.The radio access network load information refers to the information suchas what level RAN (e.g. eNB, NB, RNC) load (e.g. radio resource usagerate (Physical Resource Block Usage)), hardware load, network load(Transport Network Layer Load), and available capacity (CompositeAvailable Capacity) are in, or whether it is overloaded, whether anaccess is limited (Access Barring: AB, or Access Class Barring: ACB),the number of activated radio terminals around cells (Number of ActiveUE), or the number of random access preambles around cells (Number ofReceived Random Access Preambles), which is received in a predeterminedperiod. The radio bearer information refers to the information such ashow many radio bearers (Radio Bearer: RB) are used per cell, or how manyradio access bearers (Radio Access Bearer: RAB) are established percell. Note that a radio bearer (RB) or a radio access bearer (RAB) maybe the information per type such as GBR (Guaranteed Bit Rate), Non-GBR.

Further, it is conceivable to take radio terminal information of eachradio terminal UE into consideration. It is conceivable that the radioterminal information is, for example,

terminal unique information,

speed related information, and

radio link information,

but it is not limited thereto. The terminal unique information refers tothe information such as radio terminal capability (UE Capability), radioterminal category (UE Category), access class, or terminal type (e.g.Type Allocation Code: TAC included in International Mobile EquipmentIdentifier: IMEI that is a terminal identifier). The speed relatedinformation refers to the information such as a speed of the radioterminal (UE) measured by the UE itself, a speed of the UE estimated bythe radio base station (eNB), a mobility state of the UE decided by theUE itself, or a mobility state of the UE decided by the eNB. Note that amobility state is the information defined in multiple levels such asNormal, Low, Medium and High, for example, it is decided based on howmany times the radio terminal (UE) performs handover within apredetermined time, or how many times the UE performs cell reselections.The radio link information refers to the information such as the numberof radio bearers (Number of RB) simultaneously used, the number of cells(Number of Serving Cell) simultaneously used, the number of componentcarriers (Number of Component Carrier) simultaneously used, or whether aplurality of radio bearers are used, whether a plurality of cells orcomponent carriers are used, or channel quality (Channel QualityIndicator: CQI), or a policy (e.g. Proportional Fairness: PF, RoundRobin: RR) in a scheduler of a radio station (e.g. eNB, NB, RNC). Notethat a technique for the use of a plurality of cells or componentcarrier is called as a carrier aggregation in LTE, and the technique isexpected to bring an improvement effect of throughput (that is,increase). Similarly, in UMTS, a technique for the use of a plurality ofcells is used in combination with the use of HSDPA (High Speed DownlinkPacket Access), or HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access), for example,when two cells are simultaneously used, it is called as dual cell HSDPA,or dual cell HSUPA.

It is expected to make quality measurement more meaningful by addingsuch radio network information or radio terminal information to theinformation to be reported to the TCE.

Further, in the present invention, it is conceivable that the radiostation forcibly instructs the radio terminal to execute obtainment ofdetailed location information using GPS or LCS, and to report thedetailed location information. Therefore, it is possible to effectivelyobtain the detailed location information, thereby being able to expectto increase a mapping accuracy with the results of quality measurement.However, in this case, the application of information may be necessary,the information indicating whether a user who owns a radio terminalallows for obtainment of detailed location information (e.g. what issimilar to “User Consent” with respect to a report of locationinformation) in accordance with the instructions from a radio station.In this case, the radio station can forcibly instruct the radio terminalto obtain and report the detailed location information only when a userconsents. Further, as another method, when the radio terminal receivesinstructions to forcibly obtain and report the detailed locationinformation from the radio station, the radio terminal may be configuredto reject the instructions. It is conceivable as a rejection reason thata user rejects the instructions, or a battery amount of the radioterminal is not sufficient, but it is not limited thereto.

<Embodiment of First Radio Communication System>

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configurationof a first radio communication system in one embodiment of the presentinvention. The first radio communication system assumes 3GPP LTE isassumed in, and includes a radio terminal (UE) 10, a radio base station(eNB) 11, a mobility management apparatus (MME)/a home subscribermanagement server (HSS) 12 of a radio terminal, a network operationmanagement apparatus (EM) 13, and an information collection server(Trace Collection Entity: TCE) 14.

FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 are function diagrams of the radio terminal (UE) andeach radio network node in the first radio communication system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the radio terminal (UE) 10 and the radiobase station (eNB) 11. The radio terminal (UE) 10 includes a radiosignal receiver 101 that receives radio signals from the radio basestation (eNB) 11, a demodulator 102 that demodulates the receivedsignals, a control unit 103 that controls operations of the UE such asexecution of measurement based on demodulated information, a measurementunit 104 that executes measurement based on the instructions from thecontrol unit 103 or the received radio signals, a signal generation unit105 that generates transmission signals from the measurement results orinformation data, and a radio signal transmitter 106 that transmitstransmission signals by radio, and the like.

The radio base station (eNB) 11 includes a radio signal receiver 111that receives radio signals from the radio terminal (UE) 10, ademodulator 112 that demodulates the received radio signals, ameasurement information storing unit 113 that stores demodulatedmeasurement information, a transmitter 114 that transmits uplink data ormeasurement information received from the UE 10 to an upper station(e.g. MME, EM, or TCE), a receiver 115 that receives signals from anupper station, a control unit 116 that controls generation oftransmission signals to the UE 10 or transmission of measurementinformation to an upper station, a signal generation unit 117 thatgenerates transmission signals to the UE 10, a radio signal transmitter118 that transmits radio signals to the UE 10, and the like.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the mobility management apparatus (MME)/thehome subscriber management server (HSS) 12 of the radio terminal, and ablock diagram of the EM 13. The MME/HSS 12 includes a receiver 121 thatreceives signals from the radio base station (eNB), a transmitter 122that transmits signals to the eNB, a control unit 123 that controlsvarious functions, a radio terminal authentication unit 124 thatauthenticates the radio terminal (UE) 10, a radio terminal mobilitymanagement unit 125 that performs mobility and management of the UE 10,a transmitter 126 that transmits signals to the network operationmanagement apparatus (EM) 13 or the network (operator network or theInternet), a receiver 127 that receives signals from the networkoperation management apparatus (EM) 13 or the network (operator networkor the Internet), and the like.

The network operation management apparatus (EM) 13 includes a receiver131 that receives signals from the radio base station (eNR) 11 or theMME/HSS 12, a transmitter 132 that transmits signals to the radio basestation (eNB) 11 or the MME/HSS 12, a MDT control unit 133 that performscontrol related to MDT, and the like. Note that the MME/HSS 12 isdescribed in the same block diagram in FIG. 7 , but each of the MME andthe HSS may be described in a block diagram as an independent node, thepresent invention can be performed in either case.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a trace information collection apparatus(TCE) 14. The TCE 14 includes a receiver 141 that receives signals fromthe radio base station (eNB) 11 or the upper network node (MME/HSS 12 orEM 13), a transmitter 142 that transmits signals to the eNB 11 or theupper network node, a radio terminal trace control unit 143 thatperforms tracing (tracing management) of the radio terminal (UE) 10, aMDT measurement information collection unit 144 that collects MDTmeasurement results, and the like.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the radio basestation (eNB) 11 and the radio terminal (UE) 10 in accordance with thethird embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, asquality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it isassumed to execute measurement of throughput per user of downlink data(hereinafter, “throughput per user” will be referred to simply as“throughput”, unless especially described). Note that a definition ofthroughput may be conceivable in various ways, but an application scopeof the present invention is not limited by the definition, and can beapplied to anything. At the start and the end of throughput measurement,the eNB 11 also instructs the UE 10 to obtain information related to alocation and report the obtained information related to the location.Further, in FIG. 9 , it is assumed that the eNB 11 receives instructionsto perform throughput measurement in MDT from an upper network (e.g. EM13 or EPC 14).

In FIG. 9 , the eNB 11 firstly acknowledges a reception of downlink datafor the UE 10 under control of the eNB 11 (Step 301: DL data arrival).Here, it is assumed that the UE10 is already in an active state (thatis, RRC_Connected state). Next, the eNB 11 starts throughput measurementof the downlink data for the UE 10, and starts a trace session forinformation collection by MDT (Step 302: Start QoS measurement and TraceSession). The eNB 11 starts to transmit the downlink data (that is,packets) to the UE 10 (Step 303: DL data (first piece of data)), andinstructs the UE 10 to perform execution of MDT measurement reporting(that is, measurement of received quality and obtainment of informationrelated to location, and report thereof) (Step 304: Measurementconfiguration (Immediate MDT)). In this case, for example, the eNB 11instruct the UE 10 to perform execution of MDT measurement reporting onetime. In accordance with the instructions, the UE 10 performs MDTmeasurement (Step 305: MDT Measurement), and reports the results of theMDT measurement to the eNB 11 (Step 306: MT measurement report). The eNB11 stores the results of the MDT measurement reported from the UE 10(Step 307: Store reported MDT measurement results). The eNB arbitrarilytransmits the remaining downlink data to the UE (Step 308: DL data).Then, when completing transmission of last downlink data (Step 309: DLdata (last piece of data), the eNB 11 instructs the UE 10 to execute theMDT measurement again (Step 310: measurement configuration (ImmediateMDT)). In accordance with the instructions, the UE 10 executes the MDTmeasurement (Step 311: MDT Measurement), and reports the results of theMDT measurement to the eNB 11 (Step 312: MT measurement report). The eNB11 stores the results of the MDT measurement reported from the UE 10(Step 313: Store reported MDT measurement results). The eNB finishes thethroughput measurement and stores the results. (Step 314: Finish QoSmeasurement).

Hereafter, the eNB 11 adds a common identifier (e.g. Trace Reference ID)for associating the throughput measurement results with the informationrelated to the location of the UE 10, or generates one informationelement including the throughput measurement results and the informationrelated to the location of the UE 10, or performs both addition andgeneration, and transmits the throughput measurement results and theinformation related to the location of the UE 10 to the TCE (not shownin FIGs). Further, it is conceivable that the eNB also transmits to theTCE, QoS information (e.g. QoS Class Indicator: QCI) which was thetarget for quality measurement, received quality of a serving cell orneighboring cells that is/are measured by the UE 14 which was the targetfor quality measurement, and information related to a time at which thereceived quality was (has been) measured.

By the above-operations, when the radio base station (eNB) 11 executesquality measurement (e.g. throughput measurement) related to a servicequality (e.g. QoS), it is possible to effectively collect informationrelated to a location of the radio terminal (UE) 10 to be a target forthe quality measurement, and to clearly associate the results of thequality measurement with the information related to the location of theradio terminal (UE) 10. Further, this enables the information collectionserver (TCE) 14, which has collected the results of the qualitymeasurement and the information related to the location of the radioterminal (UE) 10 from the radio base station (eNB) 11, to understandwhich results of the quality measurement are the results as to where(that is, which location) the radio terminal (UE) 10 stayed, therebybeing able to use such information effectively.

Further, it is expected to make quality measurement more meaningful byreporting “the radio network information”, or “the radio terminalinformation” described above in addition to measurement values ofthroughput and the information related to the location collected fromthe UE 10, and reporting them to the TCE 14.

Note that, in the third embodiment, the information related to alocation at both the start and the end of throughput measurement isobtained and reported, however, the information at either the start orthe end may be reported. Further, although the information at both thestart and the end is obtained, but the information at either the startor the end may be reported.

Further, in the third embodiment, the example in which Immediate MDT isused is described, but a UE in a RRC_Connected state may perform LoggedMDT. For example, in the third embodiment, the UE may obtain and reportthe information related to a location at both the start and the end ofthroughput measurement, and report the information to the eNB 11collectively later on.

Further, in the third embodiment, when the UE 10 to be a target forthroughput measurement performs handover during a period of throughputmeasurement, the UE 10 may measure throughput up to an execution pointof handover. At this time, as to the information related to a locationof the UE 10, the information which the UE 10 obtains at the start ofthroughput measurement or at the time of handover is collected. Notethat, it is conceivable that “at the time of handover” refers to, forexample, at a time point when the eNB 11 satisfying the requirements ofmeasurement report for performing handover transmits handoverinstructions (RRC Connection Reconfiguration, or Handover command), orat a time point when the UE 10 receives the handover instructions. Onthe other hand, the results of throughput may be transmitted to the TCE14 as invalid values, instead of the results of throughput measurementup to an execution of handover. Similarly, when a call disconnection(Radio Link Failure: RLF) occurs during a period of throughputmeasurement, the results of throughput may be transmitted to the TCE asinvalid values.

Here, as a method for the use of the collected information related to alocation, it is conceivable that detailed location information at thestart and the end of quality measurement is processed by linearinterpolation, a point where a radio terminal stays during a period ofthe quality measurement (in the third embodiment, during a period ofthroughput measurement) is estimated, and the results of the qualitymeasurement (that is, throughput values) are mapped to the point wherethe radio terminal stays. On the other hand, as to the informationrelated to a location, it is conceivable that when collecting RFfingerprint, received power (or, received quality) of each cell during aperiod of quality measurement is averaged every predetermined period,and the quality measurement results (that is, throughput values) aremapped to a coverage map based on the averaged received power (or,received quality). However, it is not limited thereto, but various usageembodiments are possible.

<Modification 1 of Third Embodiment>

In the third embodiment, it is assumed to perform throughput measurementas quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), and theradio terminal (UE) 10 obtains and reports information related to alocation at the start and the end of the throughput measurement, butfurthermore in the modification 1 of the third embodiment, when theradio terminal (UE) 10 obtains detailed location information by GPS orLCS, the UE reports such information. The other operations are basicallythe same as those of the third embodiment, so that explanation thereofwill be omitted.

In the modification 1 of the third embodiment, when the radio basestation (eNB) 11 firstly receives downlink data to be transmitted to theradio terminal (UE) 10 under control of the radio base station (eNB) 11,the radio base station (eNB) 11 starts throughput measurement for the UE10 and instructs the UE 10 to obtain and report information related to alocation. Further, the eNB 11 instructs the UE 10 to report detailedlocation information when the UE 10 obtains the detailed locationinformation by GPS or LCS. Note that the instructions may be performedas instructions of execution of MDT measurement reporting of ImmediateMDT, or performed using another new message. When the UE 10 obtains thedetailed location information during throughput measurement in the eNB11, the UE 10 reports it to the eNB 11. Note that the UE 10 does notnecessarily recognize that the throughput measurement is performed, theeNB 11 may instruct to stop (or, cancel) corresponding instructionsafter finishing the throughput measurement. Also, when using Logged MDTby the UE in a RRC_Connected state instead of Immediate MDT, the UE 10stores the obtained detailed location information, and reports it to theeNB 11 at a predetermined timing. Thereafter, the eNB 11 instructs theUE 10 to obtain the information related to the location when finishingthe throughput measurement, and the UE10 reports the obtainedinformation related to the location to the eNB 11 in accordance with theinstructions.

Like this, not only the information related to the location of the UE 10to be a target for throughput measurement at the start and the end ofthe throughput measurement, the UE 10 collects detailed locationinformation obtained by GPS or LCS during the throughput measurement,thereby being able to perform, in greater detail, mapping of thethroughput measurement and the place where the targeted UE 10 stayed.

<Modification 2 of Third Embodiment>

In the third embodiment, it is assumed to perform throughput measurementas quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS),information related to a location of the radio terminal (UE) 10 at thestart and the end of the throughput measurement is collected. Further,in the modification 1 of the third embodiment, when obtaining detailedlocation information by GPS or LCS, such information is also collected.In the modification 2 of the third embodiment, when the radio terminal(UE) 10 obtains the detailed location information by GPS or LCS whilethe radio base station (eNB) 11 performs the throughput measurement, theradio base station (eNB) 11 instructs the radio terminal (UE) 10 toreport such information, and when the UE does not obtain the detailedlocation information during the throughput measurement, the radio basestation (eNB) 11 instructs the UE to obtain and report the informationrelated to a location at the end of the throughput measurement. Theother operations are basically the same as those of the thirdembodiment, so that explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the modification 2 of the third embodiment, when the radio basestation (eNB) 11 firstly receives downlink data to be transmitted to theradio terminal (UE) 10 under control of the radio base station (eNB) 11,the radio base station (eNB) 11 starts throughput measurement for the UE10, and instructs the UE to report detailed location information whenthe UE obtains the detailed location information by GPS or LCS. Notethat the instructions may be performed as instructions of execution ofMDT measurement reporting of Immediate MDT, or performed using anothernew message. When the UE 10 obtains the detailed location informationduring throughput measurement in the eNB 11, the UE 10 reports it to theeNB 11. Note that the UE 10 does not necessarily acknowledge recognizethat the throughput measurement is performed, the eNB 11 may beconfigured to stop (or, cancel) corresponding instructions afterfinishing the throughput measurement. Also, when using Logged MDT by theUE in a RRC_Connected state instead of Immediate MDT, the UE 10 storesthe obtained detailed location information, and reports it to the eNB 11at a predetermined timing. Then, after finishing the throughputmeasurement, the eNB 11 instructs the UE 10 to obtain the informationrelated to the location only when not receiving a report of the detailedlocation information from the UE 10 during the throughput measurement,and the UE10 reports the obtained information related to the location tothe eNB 11 in accordance with the instructions.

Like this, the UE 10 collects detailed location information obtained byGPS or LCS during throughput measurement, thereby being able to perform,in greater detail, mapping of the throughput measurement and the placewhere the targeted UE 10 stayed. Further, even when the UE 10 does notobtain the detailed location information and does not report it to theeNB 11, the UE 10 collects information related to a location at the endof the throughput measurement, thereby being able to understandthroughput values as to where the UE lastly stayed.

Here, in another embodiment, when the UE 10 does not obtain detailedlocation information in a predetermined period, the eNB11 maypreliminarily instruct the UE 10 to obtain and report informationrelated to a location after the end of a predetermined period. Further,in another embodiment, the eNB 11 may preliminarily instruct the radioterminal (UE) 10 to report information related to a location at thestart of throughput measurement, instead of that the eNB 11 may instructthe UE to obtain and report the information related to the location atthe end of the throughput measurement.

Note that, in the third embodiment and the modifications thereof, as thequality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), (downlink)throughput is used as an example, but it is obvious to be also appliedto other quality measurements in a similar manner.

Fourth Embodiment

FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the radio basestation (eNB) 11 and the radio terminal (UE) 10 in accordance with afourth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment,as quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it isassumed to perform the measurement of a packet loss rate and of a packetdiscard rate of downlink data. Note that a definition of a packet lossrate and of a packet discard rate may be conceivable in various ways,but an application scope of the present invention is not limited by thedefinition, and can be applied to anything. The eNB 11 also instructsthe UE 10 to periodically obtain and report information related to alocation during the quality measurement, that is, during the measurementof a packet loss rate and of a packet discard rate. Then, the eNB 11reports to the information collection server (TCE) 14 of MDT, themeasurement results of a packet loss rate and of a packet discard rateand the information related to the location reported from the UE. Notethat “during the quality measurement” is not only from the start to theend of quality measurement, but may include right before the start andright after the end of quality measurement. Further, in FIG. 10 , it isassumed that the eNB 11 receives instructions to execute measurement ofa packet loss rate and of a packet discard rate by MDT from an uppernetwork (e.g. EM or EPC).

In FIG. 10 , the eNB 11 firstly acknowledges a reception of downlinkdata for the UE 10 under control of the eNB 11 (Step 401: DL dataarrival). Here, it is assumed that the UE10 is already in an activestate (that is, RRC_Connected state). Next, the eNB 11 startsmeasurement of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate of thedownlink data for the UE 10, and starts a trace session for informationcollection by MDT (Step 402: Start QoS measurement and Trace Session).The eNB starts to transmit the downlink data (that is, packets) to theUE (Step 403: DL data (first piece of data)), and instructs the UE toperform execution of MDT measurement reporting (that is, measurement ofreceived quality and obtainment of information related to location, andreport thereof) (Step 404: Measurement configuration (Immediate MDT)).

The UE 10 performs MDT measurement at a predetermined period specifiedby Step 404, and reports the results of the received quality and theinformation related to the location to the eNB 11, and the eNB 11 storesthe reported results of MDT measurement (Step 405: MDT measurement,report (UE) and Store (eNB11)). The eNB 11 continuously transmits thedownlink data (Step 406: DL data), and the UE 10 performs MDTmeasurement reporting at a predetermined period. (Step 407: MDTmeasurement, report (UE) and Store (eNB)). When completing transmissionof the last downlink data (Step 408: DL data (last piece of data), theeNB 11 finishes the measurement of a packet loss rate and a packetdiscard rate and stores the results (Step 409: Finish QoS measurement).Then, the eNB 11 stores the information on MDT measurement reportingtransmitted from the UE right after the end of the quality measurement(Step 410: MDT measurement, report (UE) and Store (eNB)).

Hereafter, the eNB 11 adds a common identifier (e.g. Trace Reference ID)for associating the measurement results of a packet loss rate and apacket discard rate with the information related to the location of theUE 10, or generates one information element including the measurementresults of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate and theinformation related to the location of the UE 10, or performs bothaddition and generation, and transmits the measurement results of apacket loss rate and a packet discard rate and the information relatedto the location of the UE 10 to the TCE 14 (not shown in FIGs). Notethat the eNB 11 may transmit to the TCE 14, MDT measurement reportingcollected from the UE 10 right before the end of the qualitymeasurement, not right after the end thereof.

By the above-operations, when the radio base station (eNB) 11 executesquality measurement (e.g. measurement of a packet loss rate and apackets discard rate) related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it ispossible to effectively collect information related to a location of theradio terminal (UE) 10 to be a target for the quality measurement, andto clearly associate the results of the quality measurement with theinformation related to the location of the radio terminal (UE) 10.Further, this enables the information collection server (TCE) 14, whichhas collected the results of the quality measurement and the informationrelated to the location of the radio terminal (UE) 10 from the radiobase station (eNB) 11, to understand which results of the qualitymeasurement are the results as to where (that is, which location) theradio terminal (UE) 10 stayed, thereby being able to use suchinformation effectively.

Here, in the fourth embodiment, the example in which Immediate MDT isused is described, but the UE in a RRC_Connected state may performLogged MDT. For example, in the fourth embodiment, the eNB may instructthe UE to perform Logged MDT at the start of measurement of a packetloss rate and a packet discard rate (or before the start), and to reportat the end thereof (or a predetermined timing before the end).

Further, in the fourth embodiment, when the UE 10 to be a target forthroughput measurement performs handover during a period of measurement,the UE 10 may measure a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate up toan execution point of handover. At this time, as to the informationrelated to a location of the UE 10, the information which is alreadyreported by the time of handover is reported to the TCE 14. Note that,it is conceivable that “at the time of handover” refers to, for example,at a time point when the eNB 11 satisfying the requirements ofmeasurement report for performing handover transmits handoverinstructions (RRC Connection Reconfiguration, or Handover command), orat a time point when the UE 10 receives the handover instructions. Onthe other hand, the results of a packet loss rate and a packet discardrate may be transmitted to the TCE 14 as invalid values, instead of themeasurement results up to an execution point of handover. Similarly,when a call disconnection (Radio Link Failure: RLF) occurs during ameasurement period of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate, themeasurement results may be transmitted to the TCE 14 as invalid values.

Further, as described in the third embodiment, even in the fourthembodiment, it is expected to make quality measurement more meaningfulby reporting “the radio network information” or “the radio terminalinformation” in addition to measurement values of a packet loss rate anda packet discard rate and the information related to the locationcollected from the UE, and reporting them to the TCE 14.

Here, as a method for the use of the collected information related to alocation, it is conceivable that detailed location information during aperiod of quality measurement is processed by linear interpolation, apoint where a radio terminal stays during a period of the qualitymeasurement (in the fourth embodiment, during a measurement period of apacket loss rate and a packet discard rate) is estimated, and theresults of the quality measurement (that is, a packet loss rate and apacket discard rate) are mapped to the point where the radio terminalstays. However, it is not limited thereto, but various usage embodimentsare possible.

<Modification 1 of Fourth Embodiment>

In the fourth embodiment, it is assumed to execute measurement of apacket loss rate and a packet discard rate as quality measurementrelated to a service quality (e.g. QoS), and the radio terminal (UE) 10periodically obtains and reports information related to a locationduring a measurement period, and the radio base station (eNB) 11transmits such information to the information collection server (TCE)14. But, in the modification 1 of the fourth embodiment, as to theinformation related to a location of the UE 10 which is transmitted fromthe eNB 11 to the TCE 14, the eNB 11 selects necessary information fromamong the information collected periodically.

In the modification 1 of the fourth embodiment, the operations which theradio base station (eNB) 11 performs from the start to the end ofmeasurement of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate, and theoperations which the radio terminal (UE) 10 performs therefrom theretoare basically the same as those of the fourth embodiment. Thereafter,the eNB 11 selects the information included in MDT measurement reportingwith a predetermined period (e.g. a predetermined period longer thanthat period), which is different from a period instructed to the UE 10by Immediate MDT, from among MDT measurement reporting collected duringa measurement period of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate,and transmits the selected information together with the measurementresults of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate to the TCE 14.

This is expected to bring effects, such as reduction of the amount ofinformation to be transmitted to the TCE 14, or reduction of processingfor selecting necessary information in the TCE 14, when it is difficultto estimate in advance how long a period of quality measurement actuallyis, or when it is unknown (or unclear) how fast the radio terminal (UE)10 moves. For example, it is desired to precisely collect informationrelated to a location to some extent, but when it is unknown how fastthe UE 10 moves, it is necessary to instruct the UE 10 to obtain andreport the information related to a location at a relatively shortperiod. However, as a result of actual information collection as to alocation, when the UE 10 does not move enough, as to a period of theinformation related to the location that is necessary (or, helpful) inthe TCE 14, it is assumed to be a relatively longer period than acollected period. In such a case, it is conceivable that the operationsof the embodiment are effective.

Note that the method for selecting information by the eNB 11 is notlimited to other than a periodical selection, it may be performed basedon that how far the UE moves, or how much data (that is, packet) the UE10 transmits. For example, when making a selection based on the movementof the UE 10, it is conceivable as a method to select the informationother than the one related to a location that is initially collected,whenever the UE 10 moves for more than a predetermined distance, orwhenever received quality of a serving cell is changed more than apredetermined value. Also, when making a selection based on the amountof data (that is, packet) transmission, it is conceivable as a method toselect the information other than the one related to a location that isinitially collected, whenever a predetermined amount of data istransmitted to the UE 10.

<Modification 2 of Fourth Embodiment>

In modification 1 of the fourth embodiment, it is assumed to executemeasurement of a packet loss rate and a packet discard rate as qualitymeasurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), and the radio basestation (eNB) 11 makes a selection from among the information related toa location periodically collected from the radio terminal (UE) 10 duringa period of measurement, and transmits the selected information to theinformation collection server (TCE) 14. But, in the modification 2 ofthe fourth embodiment, the UE 10 makes such a selection. For example, itis conceivable as a method to report the information related to alocation that the eNB 11 notifies the UE 10 of information to be a basisfor selection, and only when satisfying the basis for the selection.

Note that, in the fourth embodiment and the modifications thereof, asthe quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), apacket loss rate and a packet discard rate (of downlink) are used as anexample, but it is obvious to be also applied to other qualitymeasurements in a similar manner.

Firth Embodiment

FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the radio basestation (eNB) 11 and the radio terminal (UE) 10 in accordance with afifth embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, asquality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it isassumed to perform throughput measurement of uplink data. Note that adefinition of throughput may be conceivable in various ways, but anapplication scope of the present invention is not limited by thedefinition, and can be applied to anything. The eNB 11 also instructsthe UE 10 to obtain information related to a location and report theobtained information related to the location at the start and the end ofthroughput measurement. Here, it is conceivable that “at the start ofmeasurement” is at the start of a session (at setup of Bearer) to be atarget for the quality measurement, or at the transmission and receptionof first data of the session (that is, transmission or reception by theeNB 11, or transmission or reception by the UE 10), or when databelonging to a predetermined QoS (or, QoS group, QCI) is generated, orwhen data belonging to a predetermined QoS (or, QoS group, QCI) istransmitted, or when data is generated (that is, data is available) in apredetermined logical channel group (Logical Channel Group: LCG), orwhen predetermined LCG data is transmitted, or the like. It is alsoconceivable that “at the end of measurement” is at the end of a sessionor at the decision of end of a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement, or when last data in a session is transmitted (orreceived), at the time of completion of last data transmission (or,completion of last data reception), or when data belonging to apredetermined QoS (or, Qos group, QCI) is gone, or when predeterminedLCG data is gone (that is, empty), or the like. Further, in FIG. 11 , itis assumed that the eNB 11 receives instructions to perform throughputmeasurement (instruct the UE 10 to execute measurement in the fifthembodiment) by MDT from an upper network (e.g. EM 13 or EPC 14).

In FIG. 9 , the UE 10 recognizes a generation of uplink data (Step: ULdata arrival) and transmits a scheduling request for an uplink radioresource to the eNB 11 (Step 502: Scheduling Request (Buffer statusreport)). Here, it is assumed that the UE 10 is already in an activestate (that is, RRC connected_state) and a radio resource fortransmitting a scheduling request is already allocated. The UE 10 alsoperforms a status report of transmission buffers (Buffer status report:BSR) together with the scheduling request, but the UE 10 does notnecessarily perform the status report and the scheduling request in thesame message or at the same timing, the UE 10 may firstly transmit onlythe scheduling request. Next, the eNB 11 starts a trace session forcollecting information by MDT (Step 503: Start Trace Session), so as toinstruct the UE 10 to measure throughput measurement of uplink data ofthe UE 10, and instructs the UE 10 to execute MDT measurement reporting(that is, measurement of received quality, obtainment of informationrelated to a location and report of such measurement and information)(Step 504: Measurement configuration (Immediate MDT)). When receivingthe instructions, the UE 10 starts throughput measurement of uplink data(Step 505: Start QoS measurement). The eNB 11 notifies the UE 10 of anuplink radio resource allocation (Step 506: UL scheduling grant), andfollowed by the notification, the UE 10 starts transmission of theuplink data (Step 507: UL data (first piece of data)). The UE 10 alsoexecutes MDT measurement, and reports the results of received qualityand the obtainment results of the information related to the location tothe eNB 11 right after transmitting the first uplink data, and then theUE 10 stores the reported information (Step 508: MDT measurement, report(UE) and Store (eNB)). Note that MDT measurement may be executed rightbefore transmission of the first uplink data or at the transmission ofthe first uplink data, not right after transmission of the first uplinkdata. Thereafter, the UE 10 continues transmission of the uplink data.(Step 509: UL data).

Note that the steps of an uplink radio resource allocation of after thefirst transmission are omitted in FIG. 11 . When completing transmissionof the last uplink data (Step 510: UL data (last piece of data)), the UE10 performs throughput measurement of the uplink data (Step 511: FinishQoS measurement). Then, the UE 10 executes MDT measurement, and reportsthe results of the received quality, the obtainment results of theinformation related to the location to the eNB 11 and the throughputresults to the eNB 11, and the eNR 11 stores the reported information(Step 512: MDT measurement, report w/QoS measurement result (UE) andStore (eNB)). Note that the UE 10 may execute right before transmissionof last uplink data or at the transmission of last uplink data, notright after completion of the last uplink data transmission.

Hereafter, the eNB 11 adds a common identifier (e.g. Trace Reference ID)for associating the throughput measurement results with the informationrelated to the location of the UE 10, or generates one informationelement including the throughput measurement results and the informationrelated to the location of the UE 10 (or, performs both addition andgeneration), and transmits the throughput measurement results and theinformation related to the location of the UE 10 to the TCE 14 (notshown in FIGs). Further, it is conceivable that the eNB also transmitsto the TCE 14, QoS information (e.g. QoS Class Indicator: QCI) which wasthe to be a target for quality measurement, received quality of aserving cell or neighboring cells that is/are measured by the UE whichwas the target for quality measurement, and the information related to atime at which the received quality was (has been) measured.

By the above-operations, when the radio base station (eNB) 11 instructsthe UE 10 to execute quality measurement (e.g. throughput measurement)related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it is possible to effectivelycollect information related to a location of the radio terminal (UE) 10which executes the quality measurement, and to clearly associate theresults of the quality measurement with the information related to thelocation of the radio terminal (UE) 10. Further, this enables theinformation collection server (TCE) 14, which has collected the resultsof the quality measurement and the information related to the locationof the radio terminal (UE) 10 from the radio base station (eNB) 11, tounderstand which results of the quality measurement are the results asto where (that is, which location) the radio terminal (UE) 10 stayed,thereby being able to use such information effectively.

Further, as in the third or the fourth embodiment, it is expected tomake quality measurement more meaningful by reporting “the radio networkinformation” or “the radio terminal information” described above inaddition to measurement values of throughput and the information relatedto the location collected from the UE 10, and reporting them to the TCE14.

Note that, in the fifth embodiment, the information related to alocation at both time points (that is, at the start and the end ofthroughput measurement) is obtained and reported, however, theinformation at either of both time points may be reported. Further,although the information at both time points is obtained, but theinformation at either of both time points may be reported.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, the example in which Immediate MDT isused is described, but the UE in a RRC_Connected state may performLogged MDT. For example, in the fifth embodiment, the UE 10 may obtainand report the information related to a location at both time points(that is, at the start and the end of throughput measurement), andreport the information to the eNB 11 collectively later on.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, when the UE 10 to be a target forthroughput measurement performs handover during a period of throughputmeasurement, the UE 10 may measure throughput up to an execution pointof handover. At this time, as to the information related to a locationof the UE 10, the information which the UE 10 obtains at the start ofthroughput measurement or the time of handover is collected. Note that,it is conceivable that “at the time of handover” refers to, for example,at a time point when the eNB 11 satisfying the requirements ofmeasurement report for performing handover transmits handoverinstructions (RRC Connection Reconfiguration, or Handover command), orat a time point when the UE 10 receives the handover instructions. Onthe other hand, the results of throughput may be transmitted to the TCE14 as invalid values, instead of the results of throughput measurementup to an execution point of handover. Similarly, when a calldisconnection (Radio Link Failure: RLF) occurs during a period ofthroughput measurement, the results of throughput may be transmitted tothe TCE as invalid values.

Here, as a method for the use of the collected information related to alocation, it is conceivable that detailed location information at thestart and the end of quality measurement is processed by linearinterpolation, a point where a radio terminal stays during a period ofquality measurement (in the fifth embodiment, during a period ofthroughput measurement) is estimated, and the results of the qualitymeasurement (that is, throughput values) are mapped to the point wherethe radio terminal stays. However, it is not limited thereto, butvarious usage embodiments are possible.

Sixth Embodiment

In the third to the fifth embodiments, the embodiments are described byfocusing on the operations of the radio base station (eNB) 11 and theradio terminal (UE) 10 assuming a case of a LTE system. FIG. 12 is asequence diagram, which includes other network nodes, illustratingoperations of each node in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Note that, it is assumed that the radio station (eNB) 11executes quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS).Also, as a control method of MDT, Management based MDT (also referred toas Area based MDT) is assumed.

In FIG. 12 , the network operation management apparatus (EM) 13 notifiesthe radio base station (eNB) 11 under the control of the EM 13 of a MDTActivation message including configuration information (QoS measurementconfiguration) of quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g.QoS), in addition to configuration information of the radio terminal(UE) measurement of MDT (MDT measurement configuration), target locationinformation of MDT (Area scope), trace basic information (TraceReference: TR, Trace Recording Session Reference: TRSR) and the like(Step 601: MDT Activation (QoS measurement configuration)). Thisconfiguration information of the quality measurement indicates when,what, how is measured, or how information related to a location iscollected from the UE 10, as described from the third embodiment to thefifth embodiment. For example, when there is the UE 10 that performs aconnection establishment to the eNB 11 (Step 602: Attach Procedure), theeNB 11 confirms the EPC (HSS) about a user agreement (User Consent) withrespect to a report of location information of the UE 10 (Step 603: Userconsent information retrieval). Note that confirmation of the Userconsent is performed through each interface from the eNB 11 to the MME,and from the MME to the HSS, but in FIG. 12 , it is described as aninterface (or message) from the eNB 11 to the EPC (MME/HSS) 12, insteadof sequentially indicating an interface (or message) between the eNB 11and the MME, and an interface (or message) between the MME and the HSS.Note that, in FIG. 12 , it is assumed that a user agrees (i.e. Consent)and it is assumed to select the UE 10 of the user as the UE to beinstructed to execute Immediate MDT. After starting a trace session(Step 604: Start Trace Session) and performing a MDT preparation, theeNB 11 starts executing quality measurement related to a service quality(e.g. QoS) (Step 605: Start QoS measurement). Note that, it isconceivable that the quality measurement is, for example, throughput, apacket loss rate or a packet discard rate, a packet error rate or apacket retransmission rate, but it is not limited thereto. Then, the eNB11 collects the information related to a location of the UE 10 to be atarget (Step 606: Location information collection). As to a method forcollecting the information related to a location of the UE10, it may bethe method described in the third embodiment to the fifth embodiment, orthe one realized by the present invention other than the ones describedin the third embodiment to the fifth embodiment. Note that strictlyspeaking, it is not necessarily to perform collection during a period ofquality measurement, it is conceivable to collect the information beforethe start of quality measurement, or after the end thereof, or the like.Then, when finishing the quality measurement (Step 607: Finish QoSmeasurement), the eNB 11 stores the results of the quality measurementand the collected information related to the location of the UE 10 (Step608: Store to Trace Record). Thereafter, the eNB 11 notifies the EPC(MME) 12 of trace basic information (e.g. TR or TRSR) of which acollection of measurement information is finished (Step 609: CellTraffic Trace with TR, TRSR). The EPC (MME) 12 reports the informationrelated to the targeted UE 10 to the TCE 14, based on the trace basicinformation notified from the eNB 11 (Step 610: Sending TAC, TR, TRSR).Then, the eNB 11 reports the measurement information collected in MDT tothe TCE (Step 611: Trace Record Reporting (QoS measurement results)).

By the above-operations, when the radio base station (eNB) 11 executesquality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), it ispossible to effectively collect information related to a location of theradio terminal (UE) 10 to be a target for the quality measurement, andto clearly associate the results of the quality measurement with theinformation related to the location of the radio terminal (UE) 10.Further, this enables the information collection server (TCE) 14, whichhas collected the results of the quality measurement and the informationrelated to the location of the radio terminal (UE) 10 from the radiobase station (eNB) 11, to understand which results of the qualitymeasurement are the results as to where (that is, which location) theradio terminal (UE) 10 stayed, thereby being able to use suchinformation effectively.

Further, in the present invention, the radio base station (eNB) 11 maymeasure or collect “the radio network information” or “the radioterminal information” described above during a period of qualitymeasurement, and may report such information together with the resultsof the quality measurement to the information collection server (TCE)14. Herewith, it is expected to make quality measurement moremeaningful.

Note that, in the sixth embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the example in which the Management based MDT is used isdescribed as a MDT method, but it is obvious to be able to use Signalingbased MDT.

<Mode of Second Radio Communication System>

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of schematic configurationof a radio communication system of another embodiment of the presentinvention. This second radio communication system assumes a 3GPP UMTS,and includes the radio terminal 20, the radio base station (NB), thebase station control station (RNC) (hereinafter, NB/RNC 21), a servingGPRS support node (SGSN) (also referred to as SGSN server), a mobile(communication) exchanger (MSC) (also referred to as MSC server), a homesubscriber management server (HSS) (hereinafter, SGSN/MSC/HSS22), thenetwork operation management apparatus (EM) 23, and the informationcollection server (TCE) 24.

The configuration of a function diagram of the radio terminal (UE) 20and each radio network node in the second radio communication system issimilar to that of those in the first radio communication system, sothat the figures will be omitted. Note that the configuration of NB/RNC21 is similar to the one of the eNB 11 of the first radio communicationsystem, and the configuration of SGSN/MSC/HSS 22 is similar to the oneof the MME/HSS 12 of the first radio communication system. There areminor differences such as that a physical interface exists between theNB and the RNC, because the NB and the RNC are basically differentnodes. However, there is no much functional difference in application ofthe present invention.

Seventh Embodiment

FIG. 14 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of each node ofUMTS in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention.In the seventh embodiment, it is assumed that the base station controlstation (RNC) 21 executes quality measurement related to a servicequality (e.g. QoS), and executes measurement of downlink throughput asan example of the quality measurement. It is also assumed to collectinformation related to a location of the radio terminal (UE) 20 at thestart and the end of quality measurement. Note that, as a control methodof MDT, Management based MDT (also referred to as Area based MDT) isalso assumed.

In FIG. 14 , the network operation management apparatus (EM) 23 notifiesthe base station control station (RNC) under the control of the EM 23 ofa MDT Activation message including configuration information (QoSmeasurement configuration) of quality measurement related to a servicequality (e.g. QoS), in addition to configuration information of theradio terminal (UE) measurement of MDT (MDT measurement configuration),target location information of MDT (Area scope), trace basic information(Trace Reference: TR, Trace Recording Session Reference: TRSR) and thelike (Step 701: MDT Activation (QoS measurement configuration)). In thisembodiment, the configuration information of this quality measurementindicates that the RNC 21 performs downlink throughput measurement, theUE 20 obtains information related to a location at the start and the endof throughput measurement and collects such information. For example,when there is the UE 20 that performs a connection establishment to theRNC 21 (Step 702: Attach Procedure), the RNC 21 confirms the CN(SGSN/MSC/HSS22) about a user agreement (User Consent) with respect to areport of location information of the UE 20 (Step 703: User consentinformation retrieval). Note that confirmation of the User consent isperformed through each interface from the RNC 21 to the SGSN or the MSC,and from the SGSN or MSC to the HSS, but in FIG. 14 , it is described asan interface (or message) from the RNC 21 to the CN 22 (HSS/SGSN/MSC)instead of sequentially indicating an interface (or message) between theRNC 21 and the SGSN or the MSC, and an interface (or message) betweenthe SGSN or the MSC and the HSS. Note that, in FIG. 14 , it is assumedthat a user agrees (i.e. Consent) and it is assumed to select the UE 10of the user as the UE to be instructed to execute Immediate MDT. Afterstarting a trace session (Step 704: Start Trace Session) and performinga MDT preparation, the RNC 21 starts performing throughput measurementrelated to a service quality (Step 705: Start QoS measurement). On theother hand, the CN 22 (SGSN) arbitrarily transmits downlink data to theRNC 21 (Step 706: DL data), and the RNC 21 transmits the downlink datato the UE 20. Here, when the RNC 21 starts to transmit the first dataamong the generated (that is, received from the CN 22) downlink data tothe UE 20 (Step 707: DL data (first piece of data)), the RNC 21instructs the UE 20 to execute MDT measurement, obtain the informationrelated to a location, and report i the obtained information (Step 708:Measurement configuration (Immediate MDT)). The UE 20 executes MDTmeasurement reporting in accordance with the instructions, and the RNC21 stores MDT measurement information including the reported informationrelated to the location (Step 709: MDT measurement, report (UE) andStore (RNC)). Thereafter, the RNC 21 continues transmission of thedownlink data to the UE 20 (Step 710: DL data), and when completingtransmission of last data (Step 711: DL data (last piece of data), theRNC 21 calculates throughput values, finishes the quality measurementprocess (Step 712: Finish of QoS Measurement), and instructs the UE 20to execute MDT measurement, obtain the information related to thelocation, and report the obtained information (Step 713: Measurementconfiguration (Immediate MDT)). The UE 20 executes the MDT measurementin accordance with the instructions, and the RNC 21 stores the MDTmeasurement information including the reported information related tothe location (Step 714: MDT measurement, report (UE) and Store (RNC)).Then, the RNC 21 reports the measurement information collected in MDT tothe TCE 24 (Step 715: Trace Record Reporting (QoS measurement results)).

By the above-operations, when the base station control station (RNC) 21executes quality measurement related to a service quality (e.g. QoS), itis possible to effectively collect information related to a location ofthe radio terminal (UE) 20 to be a target for the quality measurement,and to clearly associate the results of the quality measurement with theinformation related to the location of the radio terminal (UE) 20.Further, this enables the information collection server (TCE) 24, whichhas collected the results of the quality measurement and the informationrelated to the location of the radio terminal (UE) 20 from the basestation control station (RNC) 21, to understand which results of thequality measurement are the results as to where (that is, whichlocation) the radio terminal (UE) 20 stayed, thereby being able to usesuch information effectively.

Further, in the present invention, the base station control station(RNC) 21 may measure or collect “the radio network information” or “theradio terminal information” described above during a period of qualitymeasurement, and may report such information together with the resultsof the quality measurement to the information collection server (TCE)24. Herewith, it is expected to make quality measurement moremeaningful.

Note that, in the seventh embodiment of the present invention describedabove, the example in which the Management based MDT is used isdescribed as a MDT method, but it is obvious to be able to use Signalingbased MDT as well. Similarly, the UE in a RRC_Connected state mayperform Logged MDT by instead of Immediate MDT.

In the above-described embodiments, 3GPP LTE or UMTS is assumed as aradio communication system, however, the present invention is notlimited thereto, it is possible to be applied to GSM (Global System forMobile communications), WIMAX (Worldwide interoperability for MicrowaveAccess), and the like.

As is apparent from the above-descriptions, each unit may be configuredwith hardware or may be realized by a computer program. In this case,the functions and operations similar to each embodiment described aboveare realized by a processor under a program stored in a program memory.Only one part of the above-described functions of the embodiments can berealized with the computer program.

One part or an entirety of the above embodiments can be described as thefollowing supplementary notes, but the present invention is not limitedto the followings.

(Supplementary Note 1) A radio communication system having qualitymeasurement means configured to execute quality measurement related to aservice quality in communication between a radio terminal and a radiostation, and information collection means configured to collectinformation related to a location of the radio terminal to a target forthe quality measurement, the radio communication system comprising:

means configured to associate the information related to the location ofthe radio terminal when a predetermined condition is satisfied in anexecution period of the quality measurement with results of the qualitymeasurement.

(Supplementary Note 2) The radio communication system according tosupplementary note 1, wherein the predetermined condition is at leasteither one of the start and the end of the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 3) The radio communication system according tosupplementary note 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined condition is thestart and the end of the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 4) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 3, wherein the radio station has meansconfigured to instruct the radio terminal to be a target for the qualitymeasurement to obtain one or more than one the information related tothe location.

(Supplementary Note 5) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 2 to 4, wherein the start of the qualitymeasurement is any of

the start of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the transmission of first data in a session to be a target for thequality measurement,

the reception of first data in a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement,

a time point that data belonging to a predetermined QoS (Quality ofService) in a session to be a target for the quality measurement isgenerated,

the transmission of data belonging to a predetermined QoS in a sessionto be a target for the quality measurement,

a time point that data is generated in a predetermined LCG (LogicalChannel Group) in a session to be a target for the quality measurement,and

the transmission of data of a predetermined LCG in a session to be atarget for the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 6) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 2 to 5, wherein the end of the qualitymeasurement is any of

the end of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the decision of end of a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement,

the transmission of last data in a session to be a target for thequality measurement,

the reception of last data in a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement,

the completion of transmitting last data in a session to be a target forthe quality measurement,

the completion of receiving last data in a session to be a target forthe quality measurement,

a time point that data belonging to a predetermined QoS in a session tobe a target for the quality measurement is empty, and

a time point that data of a predetermined LCG in a session to be atarget for the quality measurement is empty.

(Supplementary Note 7) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined condition is apredetermined period from when the predetermined condition is received,and the information related to the location is obtained at thepredetermined period and reported to the radio station.

(Supplementary Note 8) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined condition is apredetermined period from when the predetermined condition is received,and the information related to the location is obtained at thepredetermined period and the obtained information related to thelocation is reported to the radio station at a predetermined timing.

(Supplementary Note 9) The radio communication system according tosupplementary note 8, wherein the radio terminal reports the informationrelated to the location, either when a distance for which the radioterminal moves from a previous report of the information related to thelocation is more than a predetermined value, or when the radio terminalreceives more than the predetermined number of packets.

(Supplementary Note 10) The radio communication system according tosupplementary note 8 or 9, wherein the predetermined timing is at leastany of

the start of the quality measurement,

the end of the quality measurement,

the start of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the start of transmission and reception of data to be a target for thequality measurement,

the end of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the end of transmission and reception of data to be a target for thequality measurement, and

when instructions for reporting the information related to the locationare received from the radio station.

(Supplementary Note 11) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 10, wherein the predetermined condition isthat the radio terminal obtains or updates detailed locationinformation.

(Supplementary Note 12) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 11, wherein the radio station instructs theradio terminal to obtain the detailed location information.

(Supplementary Note 13) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 12, wherein the predetermined condition isto satisfy a preliminary indicated condition related to a measurementreport of received quality, or to transmit or receive handoverinstructions.

(Supplementary Note 14) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 13, wherein when the radio terminal to be atarget for the quality measurement performs handover, the radio stationreports results of the quality measurement up to an initiation of thehandover, or invalid values, together with information indicating adisruption caused by the handover, to an information collection server.

(Supplementary Note 15) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 14, wherein when a call disconnection occursin the radio terminal to be a target for the quality measurement, theradio station reports results of the quality measurement up to aninitiation of the call disconnection (RLF), or invalid values, togetherwith information indicating a disruption caused by the calldisconnection, to the information collection server.

(Supplementary Note 16) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 15, wherein the radio station reports to theinformation collection server, the information related to the locationcollected from the radio terminal and results of the quality measurementas one QoS information element.

(Supplementary Note 17) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary note 16, wherein the QoS information element includesat least one of

terminal unique information,

core network load information,

radio access network load information,

speed related information of the radio terminal,

radio bearer related information of the radio terminal, and

radio link information.

(Supplementary Note 18) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 17, wherein the radio station receivesinstructions from an upper network node to execute the qualitymeasurement related to a service quality, and collects the informationrelated to a location of the radio terminal to be a target for thequality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 19) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 17, wherein the radio terminal receivesinstructions from the radio station, and executes the qualitymeasurement related to a service quality.

(Supplementary Note 20) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 19, wherein the radio station decideswhether the predetermined condition is satisfied, and instructs theradio terminal to be a target for the quality measurement to obtain oneor more than one the information related to the location.

(Supplementary Note 21) The radio communication system according to anyof supplementary notes 1 to 19, wherein the radio terminal decideswhether the predetermined condition is satisfied, and obtains theinformation related to the location.

(Supplementary Note 22) A radio terminal in a radio communication systemthat executes quality measurement related to a service quality incommunication between the radio terminal and a radio station, the radioterminal comprising:

location information report means configured to obtain informationrelated to the radio terminal when a predetermined condition issatisfied in an execution period of the quality measurement, and reportthe obtained information related to the location to the radio station.

(Supplementary Note 23) The radio terminal according to supplementarynote 22, wherein the predetermined condition is at least either one ofthe start and the end of the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 24) The radio terminal according to supplementarynote 22 or 23, wherein the predetermined condition is the start and theend of the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 25) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 24, wherein the location information reportmeans is configured to receive instructions to obtain one or more thanone the information related to the location, and obtain one or more thanone the information related to the location.

(Supplementary Note 26) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 23 to 25, wherein the start of the qualitymeasurement is any of

the start of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the transmission of first data in a session to be a target for thequality measurement,

the reception of first data in a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement,

a time point that data belonging to a predetermined QoS (Quality ofService) in a session to be a target for the quality measurement isgenerated,

the transmission of data belonging to a predetermined QoS in a sessionto be a target for quality measurement,

a time point that data is generated in a predetermined LCG (LogicalChannel Group) in a session to be a target for the quality measurement,and

the transmission of data of a predetermined LCG in a session to be atarget for the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 27) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 23 to 26, wherein the end of the quality measurementis any of

the end of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the decision of end of a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement,

the transmission of last data in a session to be a target for thequality measurement,

the reception of last data in a session to be a target for the qualitymeasurement,

the completion of transmitting last data in a session to be a target forthe quality measurement,

the completion of receiving last data in a session to be a target forthe quality measurement,

a time point that data belonging to a predetermined QoS in a session tobe a target for the quality measurement is empty, and

a time point that data of a predetermined LCG in a session to be atarget for the quality measurement is empty.

(Supplementary Note 28) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 27, wherein the predetermined condition is apredetermined period from when the predetermined condition is received,and the location information report means is configured to obtain theinformation related to the location at the predetermined period, andreport the obtained information to the radio station.

(Supplementary Note 29) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 27, wherein the predetermined condition is apredetermined period from when the predetermined condition is received,and the location information report means is configured to obtain theinformation related to the location at the predetermined period, andreport the obtained information related to the location to the radiostation at a predetermined timing.

(Supplementary Note 30) The radio terminal according to supplementarynote 29, wherein the location information report means is configured toreport the information related to the location, either when a distancefor which the radio terminal moves from a previous report of theinformation related to the location is more than a predetermined value,or when the radio terminal receives more than the predetermined numberof packets.

(Supplementary Note 31) The radio terminal according to supplementarynote 29 or 30, wherein the predetermined timing is at least any of

the start of the quality measurement,

the end of the quality measurement,

the start of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the start of transmission and reception of data to be a target for thequality measurement,

the end of a session to be a target for the quality measurement,

the end of transmission and reception of data to be a target for thequality measurement, and

when instructions for reporting the information related to the locationare received from the radio station.

(Supplementary Note 32) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 31, wherein the predetermined condition isthat the radio terminal obtains or updates detailed locationinformation.

(Supplementary Note 33) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 32, further comprising receiving instructionsto obtain the detailed location information.

(Supplementary Note 34) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 33, wherein the predetermined condition is tosatisfy a preliminary indicated condition related to a measurementreport of received quality, or to transmit or receive handoverinstructions.

(Supplementary Note 35) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 34, wherein the location information reportmeans is configured to obtain the information related to the locationbased on the instructions from the radio station, the instructions to betransmitted when the radio station decides that the predeterminedcondition is satisfied.

(Supplementary Note 36) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 34, wherein the location information reportmeans is configured to decide whether the predetermined condition issatisfied, and obtain the information related to the location.

(Supplementary Note 37) The radio terminal according to any ofsupplementary notes 22 to 36, further comprising means configured toreceive the instructions from the radio station, and execute the qualitymeasurement related to the service quality.

(Supplementary Note 38) A radio station in a radio communication systemthat executes quality measurement related to a service quality incommunication between a radio terminal and the radio station, the radiostation comprising:

means configured to instruct the radio terminal to be a target for thequality measurement to obtain one or more than one information relatedto a location when a predetermined condition is satisfied; and

means configured to associate the information related to the location ofthe radio terminal with results of the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 39) A network operation management apparatus in aradio communication system that executes quality measurement related toa service quality in communication between a radio terminal and a radiostation, the network operation management apparatus comprising:

means configured to instruct the radio station to

-   -   execute the quality measurement;    -   instruct the radio terminal to be a target for the quality        measurement to obtain one or more than one information related        to a location when a predetermined condition is satisfied, in an        execution period of the quality measurement; and    -   transmit the information related to the location of the radio        terminal in association with results of the quality measurement.

(Supplementary Note 40) A communication quality confirmation method,comprising:

executing quality measurement related to a service quality incommunication between a radio terminal and a radio station;

obtaining information related to a location of the radio terminal when apredetermined condition is satisfied; and

associating the information related to the location of the radioterminal when the predetermined condition is satisfied with results ofthe quality measurement.

Above, while the present invention has been particularly shown anddescribed with reference to embodiments and exemplary embodiment, thepresent invention is not limited to the above mentioned embodiments andexemplary embodiments. It will be understood by those of ordinary skillin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Inaddition, an appropriate combination of the embodiments or exemplaryembodiments may be employed.

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromJapanese patent application No. 2012-9486, filed on Jan. 19, 2012, thedisclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 Radio station

2 Radio terminal

10 Radio terminal (UE)

11 Radio base station (eNB)

12 Mobility management apparatus (MME)/Home subscriber management server(HSS)

13 Network operation management apparatus (EM)

14 Information collection server (Trace Collection Entity: TCE)

20 Radio terminal (UE)

21 Base station control station (RNC)

22 Home subscriber management server (HSS)

23 Network operation management apparatus (EM)

24 Information collection server (TCE)

The invention claimed is:
 1. A base station comprising: a memory; and atleast one hardware processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at leastone hardware processor is configured to: transmit an instruction for auser equipment to obtain first information related to a location of theuser equipment; perform throughput measurement of a communication withthe user equipment; and transmit the first information, secondinformation related to an accuracy of the location of the userequipment, results of the throughput measurement, and third informationrelated to a time at which the throughput measurement is performed bythe base station, wherein the first information, the second information,and the results of the throughput measurement are correlated based onthe time.
 2. The base station according to claim 1, wherein the at leastone hardware processor is configured to collect the first information,the second information, the results of the throughput measurement andthe third information.
 3. The base station according to claim 1, whereinthe instruction for the user equipment to obtain the first informationcomprises an instruction for the user equipment to use a GlobalNavigation Satellite System (GNSS) to obtain the first information.
 4. Amethod of a base station comprising: transmitting an instruction for auser equipment to obtain first information related to a location of theuser equipment; performing throughput measurement of a communicationwith the user equipment; and transmitting the first information, secondinformation related to an accuracy of the location of the userequipment, results of the throughput measurement, and third informationrelated to a time at which the throughput measurement is performed bythe base station, wherein the first information, the second information,and the results of the throughput measurement are correlated based onthe time.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:collecting the first information, the second information, the results ofthe throughput measurement and the third information.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the instruction for the user equipment toobtain the first information comprises an instruction for the userequipment to use a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to obtainthe first information.
 7. A user equipment comprising: a memory; and atleast one hardware processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at leastone hardware processor is configured to: receive an instruction toobtain first information related to a location of the user equipment;obtain the first information; and transmit the first information andsecond information related to an accuracy of the location of the userequipment, wherein the first information, the second information, andresults of a throughput measurement of a communication with the userequipment are correlated based on a time at which the throughputmeasurement is performed by a base station.
 8. The user equipmentaccording to claim 7, wherein the instruction to obtain the firstinformation comprises an instruction to use a Global NavigationSatellite System (GNSS) to obtain the first information.
 9. A method ofa user equipment comprising: receiving an instruction to obtain firstinformation related to a location of the user equipment; obtaining thefirst information; and transmitting the first information and secondinformation related to an accuracy of the location of the userequipment, wherein the first information, the second information, andresults of a throughput measurement of a communication with the userequipment are correlated based on a time at which the throughputmeasurement is performed by a base station.
 10. The method according toclaim 9, wherein the instruction to obtain the first informationcomprises an instruction to use a Global Navigation Satellite System(GNSS) to obtain the first information.